Korean Numbers and Their Uses

Basic Korean Numbers
  • Numbers 1 to 10:
    • 1: 하나 (Han)
    • 2: 둘 (Dul)
    • 3: 셋 (Set)
    • 4: 넷 (Net)
    • 5: 다섯 (Daseot)
    • 6: 여섯 (Yeoseot)
    • 7: 일곱 (Ilgop)
    • 8: 여덟 (Yeodeol)
    • 9: 아홉 (Ahop)
    • 10: 열 (Yeol)
Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, and Higher
  • Tens:
    • 20: 스무 (Seumu)
    • 30: 서른 (Seoreun)
    • 40: 마흔 (Maheun)
    • 50: 쉰 (Shin)
    • 60: 예순 (Yesun)
    • 70: 일흔 (Ilheun)
    • 80: 여든 (Yeodeun)
    • 90: 아흔 (Aheun)
  • Hundreds:
    • 100: 백 (Baek)
    • 1,000: 천 (Cheon)
    • 10,000: 만 (Man)
  • Higher Numbers:
    • 100,000: 십만 (Simman)
    • 1,000,000: 백만 (Baekman)
    • 10,000,000: 천만 (Cheonman)
    • 100,000,000: 억 (Eok)
    • 1,000,000,000: 십억 (Sibeok)
    • 10,000,000,000: 천억 (Cheoneok)
Categories of Numbers in Korean
  1. Simply Numbers (without function):
    • Known as 숫자 (Sooja)
  2. Counting Numbers:
    • Used for counting how many items or entities, known as 수 (Su).
  3. Numbers as Signs, Labels, or Codes:
    • Known as 번호 (Beonho).
Sino-Korean Numbers

These numbers are derived from Chinese characters and are often used in more formal contexts or when dealing with concepts such as dates, money, phone numbers, and addresses.

  • Sino-Korean Numbers:
    • 1: 일 (Il)
    • 2: 이 (I)
    • 3: 삼 (Sam)
    • 4: 사 (Sa)
    • 5: 오 (O)
    • 6: 육 (Yuk)
    • 7: 칠 (Chil)
    • 8: 팔 (Pal)
    • 9: 구 (Gu)
    • 10: 십 (Sip)
  • Tens:
    • 20: 이십 (Isip)
    • 30: 삼십 (Samsip)
    • 40: 사십 (Sasip)
    • 50: 오십 (Osip)
    • 60: 육십 (Yuksip)
    • 70: 칠십 (Chilsip)
    • 80: 팔십 (Palsip)
    • 90: 구십 (Gusip)
  • Hundreds and Beyond:
    • 100: 백 (Baek)
    • 1,000: 천 (Cheon)
    • 10,000: 만 (Man)
    • Higher numbers can be formed in a similar manner (e.g., 200: 이백 (Ibaek), 300: 삼백 (Sambaek)).
Exceptions in Usage
  • Time Units:
    • Hour, Minute, Second
    • Year, Month, Week, Day
  • Age in Colloquial Context:
    • (살)
  • Units for Times of Actions/State:
    • 번 (Beon)
  • Exact Counting:
    • e.g., 'Exactly 20 + Unit'
Summary

The Korean numbering system is structured around three main uses of numbers:

  1. Purely counting or reading.
  2. When counting specific items.
  3. When numbers serve as identifiers that cannot be counted in a traditional sense.
    Understanding the context (like age or time) is crucial for proper usage. Familiarity with these forms can aid in everyday communication, particularly in contexts such as shopping, telling time, and social interactions.